Spay and Neuter

If we go back in time our veterinarians told us to spay and neuter dogs before 1 years of age.  The argument for early spay and neuter was it stops mammary cancers.  It's true there is evidence it does. But it's one cancer against many.  Mammary cancers are also not common compared to other cancers. 

We all followed it as we were told something by a professional so it must be right.   Then came the science, then came more and more admissions that it is the worst thing we can do.

Spaying and neutering is helpful to families who do not wish to encounter regular seasons, and want to take their bitches out.  Some breeds like my Bracco can be in season every 5 months and I had one bitch every 3 months, and then phantoms. This dog was always in milk.  Her cycles were haywire.  In her it was going to be a spay after her second litter. But she was tragically taken from me.  So I think there are dog breeds where you have to look at quality of life and yours too.   So please do not think Im anti this or that. I have to say to lots of people all the time I can give you the facts, I can see the sense. But sometimes in our lives we have to do things which others do not, just to live happily with our dog. 

Spaying and neutering changes metabolism which leads to obesity and diabetes.  It also leads to thyroid problems and Cushings disease/addisons. 

Spaying and neutering too early can bring cancers forward.  We now know Mast Cell tumours, bone cancer, lymphoma, spleen tumour is due to neutering from science studies done.  In particular the Vizsla and many will die from spleen tumours later in life. 

Spaying and neutering too early can bring hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia.  Joint growth problems like OCD in younger dogs. 

Spaying and neutering can bring behaviour changes such as phobias on noise, people or other dogs.  Or showing behaviour patterns that do not make sense.  Fear Aggression is also linked to early. neutering. 

In my Academy im writing an article linking science links to the above to give you more insight into spaying and neutering. 

So what should you do with your pet?  Firstly I say to male owners leave your dog entire, and train your dog good recall.  If your dog is excellent in recall youll call him away from situations during adolescence when they suddenly realise females are there for a reason.  If your dog is a menace to all dogs it meets in the park, and looks to pick fights over females, then you have not controlled your dog and training is lacking.  In these cases neutering is probably wise.  Consult your veterinary surgeon but be aware they are business which encourages operations as it brings income in.  I call it bread and butter income as they rely on this as much as vaccines, flea and wormer sales. 

There is a castration implant which takes away the hormones.  Boys balls shrink.  But in the friends I have whose had their dogs done they have seen aggressive behaviour tendencies in boys that have had this implant. Mainly with other dogs.  Once the implants worn off their behaviours has been better.  You must research it because years ago they said it also caused cancers in dogs earlier.  So this is something you must research and be happy with.  For some the implants a life saver.  It can get your dog from adolescence to adulthood with out total removal of the hormone.  

If you own a female this is more difficult.  Some breeds that have yearly seasons make life much easier unless you are away a lot and need to leave your dog in home boarding.  You may have to opt for kennels instead who can keep dogs more separate. 
If your female gets depressed from seasons, has phantoms after then she is a dog which will benefit from spaying.
If your female has too many seasons she can then be more likely to have pyometra, although some links are now coming to light again with science that pyo and Ecoli are linked together. So their maybe ways of avoiding ecoli. 
But if your female is very hormonal sometimes spaying is the option for you.  Because they make life hard.  But making sure your female has been spayed late.  So 3-4 before spaying.  

I have just had a 5 year old spayed. Her seasons always made her act out of character.  She wouldn't wear pants and would poop in them with in 2 seconds. A protest poop.  As she was a dog that never lives in a crate she would run around the house splashing blood everywhere and she became a big risk for the males who could have got to her.  So this is where I say you take each case on its own and think whats best for them.  I am sure now she will have some health issues later due to spaying but it was not done too young. 

So the choice is really yours.  I think key points are do not spay or neuter too young.  This seems to increase health problems into middle age, not old age.   My feelings of course are mine alone but I read everything and the cases of dogs showing illness from 5 years is linked to early neutering. 

In my Academy we talk about Pyometra in females and to be aware of the signs.   The academy will be online by May I hope.